The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Added incentive for Flyers to secure win
Fife Flyers assistant coach Jeff Hutchins will keep a keen eye on tonight’s visit of Belfast to Tayside.
Fife entertain Giants tomorrow in a fixture where points count towards the Elite League and the Challenge Cup Group B.
Hutchins is desperate for a win over the Northern Irish side to secure first place in their fourteam Challenge Cup section.
Hutchins said: “We’ve had a tough recent spell of fixtures but the boys are looking to win on Saturday.
“That would mean we top what has been a strong group and will get a second-placed side in the next round.”
Flyers beat Sheffield Steelers 2-1 at Rosslyn Street on Saturday but lost 5-3 to Cardiff Devils on Sunday at the same venue.
He admitted: “We’re obviously unhappy with the way last weekend finished, with a home defeat by Cardiff Devils after Saturday’s win over Sheffield Steelers.”
Edinburgh-based Hutchins said Fife’s power play did not function and they failed to convert despite having 13 opportunities.
He added: “That can’t happen against top teams.”
Elsewhere, Milton Keynes Lightning have confirmed that goaltender Przemyslaw Odrobny has left the club by mutual agreement.
The Polish international joined Lightning on a two-year deal in 2016 but an early season injury led to Milton Keynes signing former Nottingham Panthers netminder Miika Wiikman, limiting Odrobny to just four games through the first two months of the season.
The English club’s Scottishborn coach Peter Russell said: “Przemyslaw needs to be playing full-time to keep his levels up for club action and for the Polish national team.
“I met him and listened to his concerns and I have not taken this decision lightly. In fact, it’s one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but it’s the best decision for all parties and we move on.”
Meanwhile, Braehead Clan head coach John Tripp has signed Michal Gutwald.
The 24-year-old defenceman from the Czech Republic is expected to feature in their Elite League match at Edinburgh Capitals tomorrow.
Tripp said: “We’ve been looking at various different options for a while now and when Michal became available we decided to make a move.
“He’s a big body and we’ve been looking for some size to go at the back end. He’s young, wants to win and that’s something we’ve been looking to add.”
We’ve had a tough recent spell of fixtures . . . JEFF HUTCHINS